The resonant saga: deleted scene 1

​ The days began to blur. Tai split his time between the camp, the mines, and recruiting with Ilrick. Their numbers swelled as word of their attacks spread, and people began to believe the rebellion had a chance. Attacks had increased too—with a separate cell of fighters based in Riverbottom and more and more recruits completing the training program, they were able to hit more targets more often, further disrupting House business. Many of these strikes were small: waylaying a supply cart, fires in the night, creating a diversion in one place so rebels could raid in another. As the rebellion’s strongest floater, Tai was often called on to help. He still had doubts it was the right way to win, still disliked forcing new recruits to yuraload, but until he could think of something better, Bopra was right—they didn’t have choices anymore. The Councilate wouldn’t let them go back. As one of the most visible fighters, Tai was also often called on to recruit. Karhail had men in the markets, others in the outlying villages, some going as far south as the ice sheet. Tai and Ilrick tended to focus on the mines, on gathering the bitter and the hopeless and helping them escape in exchange for loyalty. Many of these hadn’t seen the sun in months, their skin so white others took to calling them ghosts. Today their task was a bit different. Tai and Ilrick took a winding route from their base in the Coldferth mine to Galya’s territory, Ilrick following long unmarked sections of cave as though they were signed roads. “Do they know we’re coming?” Tai asked, stooping through a narrow, wet section of cave. “Like as not,” the Seinjial replied, fingers toying with a four-sided die. “Galya was supposed to send word.” They were going to visit a proxy force, mercenaries funded by House Galya to cause unrest in rival mines. “We’re still in contact with Galya?” “Well, not us exactly. Of course they don’t know I’m part of the rebel group when we talk. They just think our group’s been quiet. Told ‘em I wanted to join this other one—call themselves the Red Elks. Nasty lot, from the sound of it.” “And we’re going to try to recruit them, when they think we’re coming to join?” “Something like that.” Ilrick tossed the die up, caught it with his other hand. “Should be fun, eh?” He slowed before they had reached marked territory, in an unremarkable section of cave. The one thing Tai knew was he had to keep Ilrick alive, or he doubted he would find his way out.Why are you still coming down here? You know it’s stupid. You should be with the kids. Tai rolled his shoulders against Hake’s blame, and a foot scraped behind them. Tai and Ilrick spun—two men stood behind them, one with a loaded crossbow trained on them. Tai struck his resonance, the air humming around him. “Now now, no need for that.” Ilrick held up a hand. “Looking for the Red Elks. You shoulda had word I was coming.” “Yeah,” one spat, “well nobody comes closer than this.” “Close enough, then.” Ilrick sat, for all the world at ease despite the crossbow. “Wanted to chat with you about the Houses.” “The Houses?” a third man barked, coming from the shadows. He wore leathers over ragged roughspun and spoke through a cleft palate. “Thought you were here to join us.” “In a manner of speaking. How is Galya treating you these days?” “Fine,” the leader barked. “More work than ever.” “Stealing yura, plundering House coin?” The man with the crossbow spat. “Nothing of it. Guarding mecking supply wagons and beefing up security patrols. Don’t loot for scat and mecking dangerous besides.” Ilrick nodded. “That’s why I left my last group. Found somebody who still is doing what we used to. And in style.” He grinned, straightening the immaculate trouser set he insisted on wearing when they recruited. “Who’s that?” crossbowman barked, Yati slur sounding more like whozzat. Ilrick settled his hands back into his lap. “The rebellion, friends.” “The rebellion?” their leader barked. “You boys are with the rebellion?” “We’re with the side what pays the most. Yura, marks, plunder, good fun—everything mercking used to be. And we come to offer you a place.” The leader spat. “You’ll never beat the Houses. Galya alone’s got enough coin to raise a whole army here.” “Not if we get em first,” Ilrick said, toying with his dice again. “And not if the yura never reaches their ships. Ain’t been a shipment left the docks in near a week, boys. Instead that’s all back with us. Bales of yura, just sitting around.” Greed lit in the men’s eyes. “This ain’t just about yura,” Tai put in, affecting Ilrick’s sailor’s brogue. “It’s about living to a ripe old age. Don’t matter whose side you’re on, there’s fighting coming. What we’re saying is us darkhairs don’t need to kill each other for the scraps they’re kicking us. You all look like trained fighters,” he gestured to them. They did look tough, in a scraggly kind of way. “And we,” he struck his resonance, letting the power rattle, “aren’t so weak ourselves.” The men stumbled back, eyes going wide. Tai stood. “We’ve got a secret now. A new way to use yura, to make abilities stronger.” “Fighters with abilities like ours,” Ilrick said, “we get top coin anywhere. But we’d rather be making top coin fighting on the same side.” Tai could just feel the hum of the man’s resonance, gently adding influence to his words. “So we come to offer you a deal. Stop working for the Houses. Join the rebellion. You get more coin, stronger abilities, and a chance to finally strike back at the lighthairs what’s been lording it over us since our father’s father’s time.” Their leader rocked back on his heels, chewing his lip. “We join you, and you teach us this new technique?” “Absolutely.” “And we get yura?” Tai smiled. “All the yura in these mines, once the Houses are gone.”

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